Ministers must cut air pollution in dozens of cities, judge rules

The government’s approach to cutting nitrogen dioxide emissions was found to be “seriously flawed”Lewis Whyld/PA Wire

A High Court judge has ordered the government to take greater action to improve air quality in 33 towns and cities after ruling that its plans for reducing toxic gas from diesel engines are inadequate.

Mr Justice Garnham said the government’s approach to tackling nitrogen dioxide pollution was “seriously flawed”. He ordered Michael Gove, the environment secretary, to require local authorities with illegal levels of pollution to identify measures “to achieve compliance as soon as possible”.